Military pilots and ground crews showing high rates of cancer

A recent study conducted by The Department of Defense showed that military pilots and ground crews experienced higher rates of certain cancers when compared with civilians.

Prior studies showed no indications that aviators were at higher risk, however the data has been requested for a long time by those who raised alarm about the rates of cancer they observed among both air and ground crew members, according to news outlet AP, which first reported the study.

The study investigated cancer rates of nearly 900,000 air and ground crew from over a 55-year time period, from 1992-2007.

All in all, when compared to civilians after making adjustments for age, sex and race, aviators saw a 24% higher rate of cancer of all types while ground crews saw a 3% higher rate of cancer of all types.

Both air and ground crew experienced “lower or similar” cancer mortality rates for all cancer types when compared to civilians.

The study also learned that aircrews had 87% higher rates of melanoma and 39% higher rates of thyroid cancer. The male subjects saw 16% higher rates of prostate cancer.

When looking at ground crews the study found they had 19% higher rates of brain and nervous system cancers, 15% higher rates of thyroid cancer, and 9% higher rates of kidney or renal cancers, and also 9% higher rates of melanoma.

Both air and ground crews did experience lower rates of certain cancers with both crews having lower rates of lung cancer.

The Department of Defense has not yet responded to Axios’ request for comment.